Feeler mechanism for looms



E. S. STIMPSON FEELER MECHANISM FOR mom's Filed May 1 192s,

o w h 0 r 8 w 1 3 E .:a..: a.

//v VET/ OR ATTORNEY Sept. 2 1924.

. 1,507,126 v. as. s mPsoN FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed my 16. 1923 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Patented Sept. 2, 1924. I

UNITED STATES 1,507,126. PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. 'STIMPSON, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-MOB TO DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF. MAINEQ I.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed May 16, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, EDWARD S,STI1\'IPSON, a citizen of the United States, resldmg at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms whereby the filling is replenished from time to time prior to complete exhaustion.

Various constructions of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been suggested and it is now the common practice to so construct and mount the feeler of such mechanisms that it enters theshuttle on each detecting beat and engages the filling, and upon detection of the'substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle initiates filling replenishment. This constantly recurring contact of the feeler with the filling frequently results in injuring the filling, especially where the filling is a delicate and sensitive nature, such as fine yarn and silk, and in cases where the woven cloth is to bedyed, the changed condition of the filling caused by the feeling contact is observable in the dyed fabric.

Since the purpose of the feeler' mechanism is to replenish the'filling when that in the active shuttle becomes substantially but not quite exhausted, it is not necessary that the feeler performs its detecting function continuously during the entire period of weaving.

Therefore, one of the objects of the pres ent invention is to provide a feeler mechanism for looms in which the feeler may be held in a retracted or inoperative position with respect to the filling, forperiods of time and be rendered operative toengage the filling only at intervals, until; it detects a near a proach to substantial exhaustion of the fil ing, whereupon the 'feeler may remain operative and upon detection of substantial exhaustion of filling, set inoperae tion a train of mechanism to replenish the filling.

In'filling replenishing looms, the crowded condition of the mechanism at either side of the loom renders it undesirable toadd special trains of mechanism to control the Serial No. 639,399.

active and inactive periods of the feeler,

and an important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in a simple and efficient mechanism for controlling the periods of action and inaction of the feeler during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle. y

The various novel features of the invention'and new combination of parts will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one, good, practical form thereof.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one side of the loom equipped with a feeler mechanism embodying the present invention 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the feeler mechanism showing the relaproached a condition of substantialexhaus tion; v

Fig. 4: is an enlarged front elevation partly in section showing the detent or means for holding the feeler in its retracted or inoperative position and the controller for tripping the detent at intervals; and

is an enlarged detail in section showing the means for actuating the flexible controller for the det-ent'from the take-up mechanism.

The present invention will he described in connection with a 'feeler mechanism in which the feeler is of the inclined type and enters the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof, and while the advantages of the invention are observable in connection with such type of feeler; it is understood that it. is not restricted there to but that feeler mechanisms of other types may be employed. The loom frame 1 may be of usual construction comprising the side frames 2 and breast beam 3 on which is secured at either side of the loom a bracket 4 having bearings for the usual transverse, rock shaft 5 which is operatively in control of the replenishing' mechanism. It has not been deemed necessary to show and describe the details of the replenishing mechanism because such mechanism may be of any of the well-known types now in common use and the details thereof form no part of the present invention.

Secured to the rock shaft and extending upwardly therefrom is the arm 6 to which is pivotally connected at 7 a rearwardly extending arm 8, the rear end portion of which is adapted to be engaged at times with an operating member 9 whiclrmay be formed as part of or associated wlth the cam fol.- lower. In the present instance the arm 8 has pivotally connected to it at 10 a rear wardly extending end portion 11 which is normally out of the path of movement of the operating member 9, and connected to the part 11 is a lug 12 overlying the horizontal arm 13 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 1 1 to a support 15 secured at 16 to the loom frame. The downwardly extending arm 17 of the bell crank lever is connected to a transmitter 18 which is operatively connected at its other end to a slide 19 under control of the feeler.

Extending from the loom frame is the shipper stand 20 to whichis adjustably connected the feeler stand 21 by means of the bolt or set screw 22, as usual.

The feeler 23, as hereinbefore noted, is shown as of the inclined type and is supported uponthe feeler stand 21 for move ment towards and from the front of the loom. The feeler 23 passes through the bearings at the rearof the feeler stand and also through an opening in the slide 19 which is guided for lateral movement at the rear of the feeler stand, and frontward of the rear bearing or guide for the slide the feeler is provided with a bridge or support 24, to which the feeler is secured. Extending frontwardly from the bridge 24 is the feeler stem 25 which passes through the swivel block '26 mounted upon the feeler stand by means of a bracket 27, and between the swivel block 26 and the bridge 24 is a spring 28 normally tending to move the feeler towards its rearward feeling position. The parts so far described may be substan tially the same as the similar parts shown and described'more fully in the patent to Edward S. Stimpson, No. 1,309,226, dated July 8, 1919, to which reference may be had for further details of feeler mechanism.

The feeler stem 25 is provided with a series of teeth 29 inclined as shown and a smooth portion 30 frontward of the series of teeth, such parts being preferably, though not necessarily, formed upon the under portion of the feeler stem.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeler is to be held in a retracted or inoperative position for periods of time and be released atintervals to perform its detecting function during weaving with the this end the present invention provides a simple and efiicient form of mechanism actuated from the take-up at intervals and normally acting to hold the feeler in its front or retracted position, but releasing it to the performance of its feeling function from time to time, the result being that dur-. ing the major portion of the weaving operation the feeler will be held out of contact with the filling in the shuttle and then released at intervals to engage the filling and detect the condition thereof, that it may call for replenishment of filling when it detects substantial exhaustion thereof on a detecting beat.

The present invention therefore provides a detent WllH'h as shown consists of a memher 31 pivotally mounted at 32 frontward of the feeler stand and having a tooth 33 with an inclined rear surface for engagement with one of the inclined teeth 29 of the feeler to withdraw the feeler frontwardly and hold it in retracted or inoperative position. the present instance, the pivotal support 32 of the detent 31 is mounted upon a bracket ea which may be conveniently secured'to the feeler stand. As shown, the bracket 34:

has a slot 35 through which passes the bolt 36 which may be the same bolt that holdsthe bracket 27 for the support of the swivel DlOCk 26 thereby simplifying the construction and avoiding the addition of extra parts.

The detent 31 is mounted to swing upon 1 an axis extending towards and from the front of the loo-1n to cause the tooth 33 of the detent to be moved in a plane transversely of and intersecting the path of frontwardly and to cause the tooth to engage one of the teeth 29 on the feeler stem when the feeler is moved sufliciently frontward. In the present instance, the bracket 34 has a spring seat 38 extending therefrom in which is seated the spring 39, the lower end portion of which bears upon theend 40 of the detent, the construction being such that the detent 31 is normally under the influence of a yielding element, the spring 39, for causing the tooth of the detent to engage one of the teeth on the feeler stem and hold the feeler retracted in a front or inoperative position.

The present invention provides a simple may be freed from holding engagement with the detent and move it to its operative or filling engaging position and be returned to holding engagement with the detent after a brief period of activity.

Since it is desirable to avoid as far as possible the addition of complicated parts to the loom for controlling the detent, the pres-' ent invention provides a flexible sheathed wire or rod, one end of which is operatively associated with and to trip the detent, and the other end of which isoperatively positioned with respect to an actuator carried by the take-up mechanism. Such flexible sheathed wire ,or rod lends itself advantageously as an operating controller .for the detent, since it may be carried around the different parts of the loom mechanism without detracting from its efficiency and operation.

As shown, the bracket 34 which supports the detent is provided with a boss 41 in which is mounted a sleeve 42 having an opening through which extends one end of the wire or rod 43 and its sheath 44, such end of the wire or rod 43 being operatively related to the end portion of the detent,

the construction being such that should the wire or rod 43 be moved lengthwise in its sheath towards the detent, the end of the detent will be lifted to thereby disengage the tooth of the detent fromone ofthe teeth of d reception of the end portion ofthe' flexible wire 43 and its sheath 44, Fig. 5. Movably mountedlin an opening 51 formed in the boss 49 is the plunger 52, the head portion 53 of which is adapted to engage the lower end portion of the flexible wire or rod 43, and to be forced outwardly or to the right,Fig. 5, by the flexible wire 43, underthe impulse of the spring 39 which normally holds the detent in operative position.

The take-up mechanism, for taking struction, and as herein shown,.it comprises the ratchet wheel 54 and thetrain of gears 55, 56, 57 and-58, the latter being connected to the usual take-up or sand roll about which the cloth passes. The ratchet wheel 54 of the take-up mechanism is shown as provided with a series of ratchet teeth 59 which may be engaged and etc ped along, as usua1, from any part connecte up the cloth as woven may be of any usual con to a moving element of the loom, as, for instance, the lay. It has not been deemed necessary to further describe the take-up mechanism, because it may be of any of the usual and well-known types.

The ratchet wheel 54, as shown, is provided with a series of spokes 60, each of which is preferably provided-with an opening or hole 61 forthe connection ofan actuator for the controller. In'the presentinstance the actuator consists of a threaded pin '62 adapted to be received by one of the openings 61 formed in the ratchet wheel and to'be secured thereto by a nut 63, Fig. 5. The head portion 64 of the actuator is provided with an inclined surface which, as the ratchet Wheel 54 is stepped along, finally comes opposite the end portion of the plunger 52 which is positioned in the path of the actuator or inclined surface and, as the ratchet Wheel continues to bestepped along the inclined surface of the actuator pushes upon the plunger 52, moves the flexible wire or rod 43 longitudinally and trips the detent from its holding relation with the feeler, whereupon the feeler moves to feeding position to detect the condition of the'filling in the shuttle. v M

The period of activity of-the feeler as thus described may be of one, two or more beatthe length of the actuating or inclined surface formed on the head of the actuator.

up movements of the lay, depending upon It will usually be sufficient to permit the feeler to remain activefor about one or two picks, and then as the ratchet wheel 54 is stepped along, the actuator'mounted thereon will he moved from its operative relation with the plunger 52, whereupon the detent will be permitted to move to its operative retracted or inoperative position until the actuator carried by the ratchet wheel 54 again calls for a period of activity of the feeler.

These intermittent periods of activity and inactivity of the feeler will continue so long as a working supply offilling remains -within the shuttle, but when the fillin approaches but has not yet quite reached the danger point of substantial exhaustiomthe feeler will not be moved frontwardly suf-' iiciently-far to cause the teeth 29 on the feeler stem to be engaged by the detent so that the feeler will remain active, and on substantial exhaustion of the filling in'the shuttle will initiate replenishment of filling, On the first detecting beat of thelay fol-" lowing replenishment, the feeler will be moved frontwardly by the working supply of filling and cause one of the teeth 29 on the feeler stem to be engaged by the detent to thereby again hold the feeler in its frontward or retracted position.

The lay 65 may be of the usual construction and be provided with a shuttle box 66, the front wall 67 of which isprovided with an opening 68 which, when the shuttle 69 is in the shuttle box, registers with a correspending opening 70 formed in the front wall of the shuttle. The shuttle box and shuttle may be of the construction now common in feeler looms, the essential being that a proper opening be provided for the en trance of the feeler into the shuttle to feel for the filling when the feeler is active on a detecting beat. a

From the construction described it will be apparent that the invention provides a simple and ethcient means for withdrawing and holding the feeler in a retracted or inoperative position with respect to the filling for periods of time, and for releasing the feeler at intervals that it may detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle and, in case a working supply is found therein be returned to its frontward or retracted position and held there by the detent. It will also be observed that the advantages of such intermittent action and inaction of the feeler are secured without the addition of complicated trains of mechanism especially devised for controlling the periods of action and inaction of the feeler and that the flexible sheathed wire or rod which constitutes a controller for freeing the. feeler at intervals may be carried around portions of the loom and its mechanism and be associated with the take-up mechanism without interfering with operating parts of the loom.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for-looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement towards and from the .front of the loom and normally under the influence of a spring tending to move the feeler to rearward feeling position, a detent pivotally supported to swing in a plane transverse to and intersecting the path of movement of the feeler to hold the feeler retracted, takeup mechanism, for taking up the cloth as woven, a sheath inclosed flexible controller 'for tripping the detent to free the feeler,

and an actuator connected to the take-up mechanism to operate the controller at intervals that the feeler may have alternating periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on the stand for movement towards and from the front of the loom and toinitiate replenishment of filling when thefilling is substantially exhausted in the shuttle, a detent pivotally mounted on thefeeler stand to swing in a substantially vertical plane extending transversely to and interseating the path of movement of the feeler and to hold the feeler in retracted position, take-up mechanism, and a controller connected to the detent, and actuated from the take-up mechanism at intervals to free the feeler from the detent from time to time during weaving with the same supply of fill ing in the shuttle.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longi: tudinal axis thereof and having a frontwardly extending portion provided with a series of teeth, a detent having a toothfor engagement with any one of the series of teeth on the feeler and supported for movement in a substantially vertical plane ex tending transversely to and intersecting the path of movement of the feeler as it is pushed frontwardly, a take-up mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is woven, a lug secured to an element of the take-up and a controller actuated from the lug at intervals to temporarily free the feeler from the detent from time to time during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

it. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, comprising in combination, a feeler stand, a feeler supported by the feeler stand for movementtowards and from the front of the loom and provideol'witha fr0ntwardly extended stem having a series of teeth, a detent supported for pivotal movement in: a plane extending transversely of the path of feeler movement to hold the feeler retracted, a take-up mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is Woven, a controller for the detent, and a lug moved by the take-up mechanism for actuating the controller at intervals to release the feeler from the detent and then permit the detent to return to holding position that the feeler may berendered active and inactive at intervals.-

5. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, comprising in combination, a feeler stand, a feeler supported by the feeler stand for movement towards and from the front of the loom. and provided with a frontwardly extended stem having a series of teeth, a detent supported for pivotal movement in a plane extending transversely of the path of feeler movement to hold the feeler retracted, a take-up mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is woven, a con-1 troller for the detent formed as a flexible wire and inclosing sheath, and means 210- lease the feeler from the detent and then permit the detent to return to holding position that the feeler may be rendered active and inactive at intervals.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler sup ported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof to detect substantial exhaustion of filling and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a bracket secured to the feeler stand, a detent pivotally mounted on the bracket to spring into engagement with the feeler and hold it retracted, a take-up mechanism, and a controller for the detent having one end supported by the bracket in proximity with the detent, and means actuated -by the take-up mechanism for operating the controller at intervals to free the feeler for short periods of activity and permit the feeler to be again moved into holding relation with the detent by a working supply of filling in the shuttle.

7. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of filling and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a detent for holding the feeler in retracted position, a series of teeth formed upon the feeler for engagement by the detent, a sheathed flexible wire having one end in position to trip the detent upon movement of the wire longitudinally, and a lug mounted upon a member of the take-up mechanism for moving the wire longitudinally at intervals to free the feeler from the detent and then passing out of operative relation with said wire that the feeler may be engaged and held in retracted position by the detent when it is again moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

8; In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a detent for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position, a trip for the detent comprising a flexible wire and enclosing sheath, and means actuated by the take-up mechanismof the loom for moving the wire longitudinally at intervals to free the feeler from the detent.

9. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, comprising a feeler having a toothed portion at its under side, a detent for engaging the toothed under side portion of the feeler to hold it in retracted position,

and a flexible controller for the detent operated from the take-up mechanism to cause the feeler to be freed from the detent at intervals determined by the take-up mechanism and be returned to the control of the detent in case the feeler detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle following its release from the detent.

detent and then free the detent for move- I ment to operative feeler holdin position.

11. An intermittent feeler mec anism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler having a detent engaging toothed. portion, a detent to engage the toothed portion of the feeler and hold it in retracted posiv,

tion, a controller for tripping the detent constituted as a flexible sheathed wire having one end supported in operative relation with the detent, a plunger, supported for engagement by the other end of the wire and a lug'movable with the take-up for operating the plunger at intervals to cause the detent to free the feeler to its feeling function and then re-engage the toothed portion-of the feeler andhold itin retracted position should it be moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling during its Period of activity.

12. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms in which the feeler has periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, the combination of afeeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon effect a change in the loom operation, a detent for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position, a trip for freeing the feeler from the detent at intervals comprising a flexible wire and inclosing sheath, and means actuated from a going part of the loom for moving the wire in the sheath longitudinally at intervals to free the feeler from the detent that it may assume its period of activity. V I In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

" EDWARD S. STIMPSON. 

